The annual competition is sponsored by the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation. Winners of the awards, the most prestigious in the field of travel journalism, were announced Oct. 21 at the SATW convention, held this year in Biloxi, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The award committee recognized the episode, "Mother’s Day" (Program #286, May 12, 2012). This hour followed a mom as she relocated her family to a village in Croatia as well as an American raising her first child in Paris. It also included a tribute to Rick Steves' mother who passed away in 2011. In honoring the work a judge commented:

"This work was driven by several beautifully told heartwarming stories. The narration is descriptive, storytelling and intriguing. The sound bites were intricately woven into the narrative arch in a way that built the characters and made an emotional connection between the subject and the listener. Each minute of the broadcast made me want to continue listening. A great example of narrative storytelling! "

Heard on over 230 public radio stations nationwide, Travel with Rick Steves, a one-hour weekly show,offers direct experiences and understandings of our complex world through the lens of travel. Rick Steves is one of America's leading travel authorities on radio, television, online and in print. He has hosted and written more than 100 shows for his popular public television series, Rick Steves' Europe. He is the best-selling author of over 50 travel books and a syndicated columnist with Tribune Media Services.

Listen to Travel With Rick Steves on Fridays at noon over Public Radio 89.5-1.